Pliers-operated retaining-ring dispensers

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for split retaining rings of both the internal and external forms designed to be operated by a conventional plierstype ring pickoff and applying or assembling tool, comprising a magazine rail (shown to be horizontally disposed but which can also be disposed at any other convention angle) for maintaining a supply of the retaining rings to be dispensed in column formation; a support for said magazine rail; spring feed means for feeding the column of rings longitudinally along and towards one end of the magazine rail; a slide mounted for reciprocatory travel in a path which intersects and is further so related longitudinally with respect to the ring column as to effect movement of each then endmost ring of the column from an incolumn position to an offset, relatively raised position in which the apertures conventionally provided in the ring ends are accessible to the plier tips; and a nonyieldable coupling operative between each so-offset ring of the column and said slide for effecting reciprocatory travel of the slide and thereby movement of the next endmost ring of the column to said offset position as aforesaid responsive to said so-offset ring being picked off (dispensed) by said pliers. Also disclosed are various means for adjusting the magazine rail in accordance with the various sizes of the rings to be dispensed, and for supporting the pliers during the ring picking off (dispensing) operation in manner as substantially reduces operator fatigue.

United States Patent [Ill 3,623,635

[72] Inventor HansErdmann Maplewood, NJ.

[21] Appl. No. 49,141

[22] Filed June 23, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 [73] Assignee Waldes Kohinoor, Inc. Long Island City, N.Y.

[54] PLlERS-OPERATED RETAINING-RING [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,819,818 H1958 Erdmann 221/312 A 3,134,168 5/1964 Erdmann 29/212 Primary E.raminer Robert B. Reeves Assistant E.raminerThomas E. Kocovsky Attorney-J. Harold Kilcoyne ABSTRACT: A dispenser for split retaining rings of both the internal and external forms designed to be operated by a conventional pliers-type ring pickoff and applying or assembling tool, comprising a magazine rail (shown to be horizontally disposed but which can also be disposed at any other convention angle) for maintaining a supply of the retaining rings to be dispensed in column formation; a support for said magazine rail; spring feed means for feeding the column of rings longitudinally along and towards one end of the magazine rail; a slide mounted for reciprocatory travel in a path which intersects and is further so related longitudinally with respect to the ing column as to effect movement of each then endmost ring of the column from an in-column position to an offset, relatively raised position in which the apertures conventionally provided in the ring ends are accessible to the plier tips; and a nonyieldable coupling operative between each so-offset ring of the column and said slide for efl'ecting reciprocatory travel of the slide and thereby movement ofthe next endmost ring of the column to said offset position as aforesaid responsive to said so-offset ring being picked off (dispensed) by said pliers. Also disclosed are various means for adjusting the magazine rail in accordance with the various sizes of the rings to be dispensed, and for supporting the pliers during the ring picking off (dispensing) operation in manner as substantially reduces operator fatigue.

PATENTEDHOV 30 Ian 3 623 s35 Sum 1 [1F 5 INVI'N'H )R aDvLD ATTORNEY PATENTEDMW 30 ml SHEET 2 OF 5 INTRODUCTION This invention relates to improvements in dispensers for socalled split, i.e., nearly closed, retaining rings well known in the patent literature and widely used in industry to provide artificial part or parts retention and/or locating shoulders in the bores of housings and on shafts when assembled in circumferential grooves provided therefor in the walls of the bores and the shaft surfaces, respectively, and more particularly to a dispenser for retaining rings as aforesaid designed to be and fully capable of being operated by a conventional pliers-type ring pickoff and applying or assembling tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION My US. Pat. No. 3,l34,l68 dated May 26, I964, discloses and claims plural forms of dispensers for retaining rings, both external and internal types, one at a time as needed, from a supply thereof maintained in stack formation on a so-called stack or magazine rail. Of these various dispenser forms, those applicable to the dispensing of external rings were designed to be operated" by a mandrel and push tube, whereas with but a single exception those for dispensing internal rings and which were designed to be operated" by conventional retainingring assembling pliers were characterized by a vertically or nearly vertically disposed magazine rail (so that the rings could be fed by gravity) and which as a practical matter required the use of pliers having 90 bent tips for their operation. By operated and operation" as just used and as will be hereinafter used is meant the acts or operation of picking off or withdrawing therefrom the lowermost ring of the stack or magazine which is then in the dispense-ready" position in which its apertured ends are readily accessible to the plier tips and to which it had been earlier pushed from its normal in-line or in-stack position and of actuating the next lowermost ring from its normal in-line position to the dispense-ready position as aforesaid by means of a slide which is actuated throughout its working or ring-pushing stroke responsive to the withdrawal movement of said lowermost ring, i.e. by a yieldable spring-finger connection between said lowermost ring and said slide.

The single excepted dispenser form noted above and which represented an attempt to meet the definite need of industry for a dispenser for internal rings capable of being operated as aforesaid by conventional pliers-type ring-applying or assembling tool was characterized by a horizontal or nearly horizontal magazine rail and by a spring feed means for positively feeding the rings along the length of the magazine rail in increments of single-ring thickness as each endmost ring was successively picked off and withdrawn, the latter because gravity feed of rings required to move in a horizontal feed path is not at all effective.

It was not anticipated, however, that the replacement of the gravity feed with a positive spring feed means as aforesaid would introduce difficulties in the smooth and certain operation so necessary in a dispenser of the type under discussion, which were later found to be present therein. Yet such proved to be the case, as dispensers made in accordance with the excepted form thereof just described did not operate with the precision and certainty which characterized the operation of the dispenser having the vertical or nearly vertical magazine rail and using the gravity feed principle. Studies made to determine the reason or reasons therefor revealed that two factors, acting in concert with one another were the likely causes of such unsatisfactory operation; namely, that with spring feed the spring tension increases in proportion to the number of rings on the magazine rail and thus the pressure on the next endmost ring on the rail against which said slide must work can be substantial when thenumber of rings stacked on said rail is great; and that movement of the slide is through a spring finger which is designed to flex (and hence is impositive) upon movement of the ring against which the slide moves being impeded, and thus, should spring pressure effective on the rings stacked or magazined on the rail be great enough to impede free and easy movement of the next endmost ring from its in-line position to its dispense-ready position, it follows that the endmost ring in said dispense-ready position can be withdrawn without corresponding movement of the slide, and that when such a condition is present, uncertain operation of the dispenser necessarily follows.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS Stated broadly, the improvements provided according to the present invention were designed for and are for the purpose of rendering a dispenser for retaining rings of the type under consideration more certain and reliable in its operation through the provision of a new and improved slide and slideactuating means, which not only insures certain release of the endmost ring then in the dispense-ready position being withdrawn from the dispenser by the pliers but also feeds the next endmost ring to the dispense-ready position with a more reliably controlled motion than was possible with the prior dispenser.

Another object of the invention is the elimination of the duplication and costs of the prior dispenser arising from the fact that the stack rod or magazine rail thereof was not ringsize adjustable, with the result that for each size of retaining ring to be dispensed a dispenser individual thereto was needed. According to the present invention, a novel magazine rail is provided which makes one basic dispenser capable of dispensing a wide range of rings of different sizes.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a dispenser for both internal and external rings capable of being operated by any conventional pliers-type ring pickoff and applying or assembling tool. Such is a feature of considerable practical advantage since the same basic dispenser can be employed for the dispensing of external and internal rings, with such changes as may be required for converting the basic dispenser from one initially set up to dispense internal rings to the dispensing of external rings being of a minor nature and readily made.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The above and other objects and features of advantage of an improved retaining ring dispenser as provided by the present invention will appear from the following detailed description thereof, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawing figures illustrative of the salient features thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser for internal rings according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof, the latter with parts shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and which further illustrates the endmost ring of the stack thereof being withdrawn by a conventional pliers-type retaining ring pickoff and applying or assembling tool; and FIG. 3A is a fragmentary part sectional view looking into the end of the magazine rail towards which the retaining rings to be dispensed are fed, and which is intended to illustrate the extent of upward movement which the improved slide mechanism imparts to each next endmost ring of the column or magazine thereof on the magazine rail responsive to each endmost ring being picked off, i.e. withdrawn by said pliers;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views, all taken on a plane corresponding to that of line 4-4 of FIG. 1, which generally illustrate the various magazine rail constructions of the invention making the dispenser suited to a wide range of internal ring sizes;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are detail views which illustrate, in perspective and from generally opposite viewing points, the novel configuration of the slide which serves to feed the next endmost ring of the stack or magazine to the dispense-ready position responsive to the endmost ring being picked off by the pliers;

FIG. 8 is side elevation of a dispenser of the invention set up to dispense external rings;

FIG. 9 is a section taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 showing a modified construction of stack or magazine rail suited to the configuration of external rings;

FIG. 10 is a broken-away fragmentary side elevation illustrating a somewhat modified mounting of the magazine rail;

FIGS. ll, 12 and 13 are foreshortened top plan, side elevational and longitudinal sectional views of a modified and somewhat simplified form of retaining ring dispenser incorporating the principles of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a detail perspective view illustrating the modified form of slide-actuated lever employed in the dispenser according to FIGS 11-13 inclusive;

FIGS. 15 and I6 are foreshortened plan and side: elevation views illustrating yet another embodiment of a pliers-opened retaining ring dispenser according to the invention, with FIG 16 being partly in section taken on a vertical plane designated l6-l6ofFIG. l5; and

FIG. 17 is an elevation view looking on to the left end of the dispenser shown in FIG. 15; and FIG. 18 is a vertical section taken on plane 18l8 of FIG. 15.

Referring to the drawing FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, a retaining ring dispenser as therein depicted comprises an elongated, generally rectangular base 10 which mounts an upright and longitudinally extending first or main standard portion 12 of appropriate height throughout its length which latter is substantially less than the length of base, and which further is formed or provided along its upper edge with a right-angularly extending flange portion 14 terminating in a vertical longitudinally extending edge 14a which is preferably machined.

As best seen in FIG. 4, a longitudinal magazine rail generally designated 16 is affixed, as by screws 18 disposed at end and middle points along the length thereof, flush against said vertical edge Ma so as to extend generally horizontally therealong. According to a special feature of the invention, the magazine rail is so formed as to be adjustable to a range of internal retaining-ring sizes. More particularly, said rail is comprised by upper and lower pairs of oppositely turned L-angles 20, 22 and 24, 26, the vertical legs of which are affixed to the vertical edge 14a of the standard flange by the screws 18 as aforesaid, and the oppositely turned horizontal legs or flanges of said L-angles provide four longitudinally extending, variable-distance spaced-apart edges which together provide a longitudinal rail on which a multiplicity of the internal retaining rings to be dispensed may be magazined or stacked, and along which they may be fed by a spring feed comprising a follower 30 riding on the magazine rail and an elongated coil spring 32 connected at one end to said follower and being trained over a fixed stud 34 and having its other end connected to the base 10 as at 36.

To vary the spacing between the aforesaid longitudinally extending edges provided by the L-angles 20, 22 and 24, 26, as makes possible the adjustment of the magazine rail to a size best suited to a particular size of internal retaining ring, the holes a, 22a for the screws 18 provided in the vertical legs of the upper pair of L-angles (which legs illustratively are disposed outwardly of the corresponding legs of the lower pair of L-angles) are elongated vertically, i.e. take the form of vertically elongated slots, whereby said upper pair of L-angles may be adjusted upward or downward, as in turn varies the spacing between all four of the longitudinal edges of the L- angle flanges, as may be necessary to size the rail to the particular size of the retaining rings to be magazined thereon.

To adjust the rail 16 to the magazine thereon of the largest or very large sizes of internal retaining rings to be dispensed, the corresponding L-angles 20, 24 and 22, 26 of the pairs thereof may be moved apart, i.e. spaced laterally from one another, by inserting a washeror spacer-strip 38 between the vertical legs of the lower pair of L-angles as illustrated in FIG. 5, which of course further spaces all longitudinal side edges of the bangle flanges.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another variant of means for adjusting the magazine rail to accommodate different sizes of retaining rings, according to which the lower pair of L-angles 24, 26 are replaced by a single strap-form rail part 40, whose upper portion is interposed between the vertical legs of the oppositely turned L-angles which correspond in all respects to the aforesaid L-angles 20, 22 as previously described, and whose lower longitudinal edge, together with the outer longitudinal edges of the horizontal flanges of said L-angles 20, 22, deter,- mine the effective ring-size holding properties of the rail. By providing said rail part 40 with elongated or slotlike openings for the screws 18 which secure said rail parts to the vertical edge 14a of the standard flange 14, a large range of ring sizes can be handled by said rail.

The dispenser base 10 also mounts, in forwardly spaced, inline relation with respect to said first or main standard portion 12, a second, longitudinally extending upright standard portion 42, with forwardly as used in the foregoing meaning the direction towards which the ring spring feed means 30-36 inclusive feeds the rings magazined on the rail 16. Said second standard portion 42 is laterally offset from the vertical center plane of said magazine rail, but it is formed or provided with a laterally extending lug 44, to the relatively rear vertical face of which is affixed as by screws 46 an upright post 48 whose vertical center plane coincides with that of the forwardly extended vertical center plane of said rail 16. As seen in FIG. 3, the upper end of said post 48 is formed with a centrally disposed, upward opening slot 50 in its upper edge, and the relatively rearward face of said post is provided with a ring recess or pocket 52 for the reception of the endmost ring R of the multiplicity thereof magazined on the rail 16 and into which said endmost ring will move under the urge of the spring feed means 30-36 upon said ring having been shifted laterally (upward) from its normal in-stack position to assume therein its dispense-ready position, in which position the apertures provided in the usually eared ring ends are accessible to the forwardly extending tips of a pliers-type applicator tool such as that designated P in FIGS. 1-4.

According to the invention, novel means are provided for effecting such lateral (upward) shift or movement of the next endmost ring to a position in which it is conditioned to seat in said recess or pocket 52 (thereby then to become the endmost ring) responsive to the pliers P picking off and withdrawing each said endmost ring. More particularly, such means comprises a rigid lever 56 which is fulcrumed at its one end which is remote from said post 48 on a pin 58 carried by the standard 42 for pivotal movement in a vertical plane which is that also containing the slot 50 of the post 48 and whose free end 60 is formed as a nose which protrudes through said post slot 50 into the aforementioned ring recess or pocket 52 by an amount I lto two times the axial thickness of one of the rings to be dispensed. Said free end of the lever also projects through a forwardly facing opening 62ain a slide 62 which is mounted for up-and-down sliding movement on said post 48.

By reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, which illustrate in detail the constructional features of the slide 62, it comprises a lower body portion of generally channel section section defined by a continuous transverse rear wall 64 and transversely spaced channellike side portions 660, 66bwhich are dimensioned so as to have slide fit on the vertical side edge portions of the post 48. The front flanges of said side edge channel portions 66a, 66b are extended upward and terminate at their upper ends in transversely extending tongues 68a, 68b which define the aforementioned closed-top opening 620 therebetween, into which the free nose end 60 of the rigid lever 56 protrudes. Thus, upon the lever being swung upward or in counterclockwise direction, the slide 62 will be actuated upward along the post 48, with its return movement taking place under the pull or bias of spring 70 connected between its continuous transverse rear wall 64 and the base 10 of the standard, as generally shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 7A and 73 also show that the upper edge 64c of said slide wall 64 has shallow-V configuration. Such is a feature of advantage since it is this edge that engages and pushes against the outer edge of each next endmost ring and its V configuration serves not only to adapt the slide to the ring edges of rings of different sizes, but it also has a centering effect on each ring engaged thereby, thus to correct for any ring misalignment that might have occurred.

To accommodate for such lateral (upward) movement of each next endmost ring of the magazine or column thereof which would otherwise be impeded by engagement ofits inner arcuate edge with the end of the magazine rail 16 from which the rings feed to a position to be acted on by said slide 62, all as generally described or will be understood from the foregoing, the lower rail parts 24, 26 (and corresponding lower rail part or parts of the variant magazine rail constructions as shown in FIG. 6 for example) have length less than the companion upper rail parts 20, 22 by an amount slightly greater than the thickness of any one of the rings magazined on the rail proper, with the result that the ends of said upper rail parts 20, 22 protrude beyond the ends of the companion lower rail parts 24, 26 and, in so doing, together act as a downward facing stop shoulder 72 so positioned as to limit the amount of upward movement that the slide 62 can impart to each next endmost ring as said slide is projected upward incident to the endmost ring being dispensed. Thus it will be seen that the protruding ends of the rail parts 20, 22 in effect provide a ring stop shoulder serving substantially the same function as the ring stop shoulder of the stack rod as disclosed and claimed in my aforesaid US. Pat. No. 3,134,168.

The manner of operating a dispenser as described in the foregoing will now be briefly described: Let it be assumed that the magazine rail 16 has been adjusted to the particular size of the internal rings to be dispensed; that a supply of said rings has been magazined in column formation on said rail; that the spring feed means has been rendered effective to positively feed the magazined column or stack of rings along the rail in the direction of the forward end of the dispenser; that the endmost ring of the stack or column is in its dispense-ready position in the recess or pocket 52 of the post 48; and that the lever 56 is in its normal low position in which its nose end 60 protrudes through the slide opening 62a, the upper edge slot 50 of the post 48 and thence not only into the opening of said endmost ring but also, as is seen in FIG. 2, to a position just above the inner edge of said endmost ring and hence in the removal or withdrawal path thereof.

lt is further to be understood that when said endmost ring is in its dispense-ready position as aforesaid, the apertures of its ears are accessible to the straightway or substantially straightway extending tips of the pliers P. When now a dispensing operation is called for, said pliers P are moved by hand to a position in which the tips thereof protrude into the apertures of the ears, as in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the pliers are now moved vertically or substantially vertically from the dispenser, said endmost ring will be withdrawn from the ring recess or pocket 52 and can now be transported and assembled in its groove by said pliers. Responsive to such withdrawal movement, the lever 56 will be swung upward, i.e. counterclockwise, about its fulcrum 58 by the ring being withdrawn, which movement in turn will actuate the slide 62 upward along the post 48, and the slide in turn pushes the then next endmost ring upward from its full line or in-stack position to its broken line position (FlG. 3A) in which it is conditioned for movement into said recess or pocket 52 upon full or substantially full withdrawal of said endmost ring having been effected. Then, upon full withdrawal of said endmost ring, said so-positioned next endmost ring moves into said pocket under the bias of the spring feed effective on the ring column. But just prior to said ring moving into and filling said pocket, the lever 56 was free to lower, which it proceeded to do under the bias of the slide-retracting spring 70 acting through the slide 62, whereupon the dispenser is set up or conditioned for the next ring-dispensing operation.

From the above statement of operation thereof, taken with the description of the parts making up a dispenser of the invention, it will be appreciated that because the lever 56 must invariably move (swing counterclockwise) as each endmost ring is withdrawn, and further because the connection between the nose end of said lever and the slide 62 is nonyieldable the slide must also move as the lever moves, movement of each next endmost ring of the column or stack thereof magazined on the rail 16 from its in-stack position to its dispense-ready position responsive to the withdrawal of each endmost ring is not only assured but is also rendered smooth and certain.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9 which illustrate in side elevation and in transverse section a dispenser for external rings operating on the same principle as that described above for internal rings but whose magazine rail is of necessity somewhat different structurally from that described for the internal n'ng dispenser as is necessary to accommodate for the different outer edge configuration of external rings as compared to the outer edge configuration of internal rings, the magazine rail generally designated 76 comprises a longitudinally extending, thin, preferably spring steel strip 78, whose thickness is somewhat less than the width of the gap between the cared ends of the external rings to be dispensed in the unstressed state thereof, to the opposite side faces and near the lower edge of which are riveted two longitudinally extending straps and 82. Generally speaking, the vertical distance between the longitudinal upper edges of said side face straps and the lower edge of the thin spring steel strip 78 corresponds substantially to the diameter of the smallest size of external ring to be dispensed.

However, said rail 76 is adjustable to the magazining thereon of external rings of the larger sizes, and for this purpose two additional rail parts 84, 86 are utilized in combination with the aforesaid rail parts 78, 80 and 82. As best seen in FIG. 9, each said additional rail part comprises an upper vertical leg portion and a lower leg portion inclined therefrom at an angle of about 45, with the inclination of said lower leg portions being in opposite directions. FIG. 9 also shows that the upper vertical leg portions of the additional rail parts 84, 86 are provided with elongated slots 88a, 88b for the passage of rail parts securing screws corresponding in all respects to the screws 18 which secure the plural parts making up the magazine rail 16 of the prior-described dispenser to the dispenser standard portion 12.

From the above, it will be understood that by adjusting the additional rail parts 84, 86 upward and downward by the amount permitted by the elongated slots therein through which the securing screws pass, it is possible to adjust the rail to a size suited to any one of a whole range of external ring sizes, just as with the prior-described dispenser designed for the dispensing of internal rings.

Referring now to FIG. 10, such shows a further modified and somewhat more positive means for adjusting a magazine rail to different sizes of rings, both internal and external, than employed in the prior-described forms. More particularly, whereas in FIG. 2, for example, the plural rail parts making up a rail were affixed to the dispenser standard flange 14 by three, i.e. middle and end, screws 18 which are inserted through a similar number (three) of vertically elongated slots in the upper edge portions of the rail or rail parts, and then threaded into a similar number (three) of tapped holes in the vertical edge 14a, the FIG. 10 variant under description utilizes the same screw and elongated slot connection only at its middle point. Although the ends of the rails (or rail parts) are also secured, such end securement takes the form of end sets of three simple round holes 90a, 90b 900 in said rail parts, which holes are spaced apart longitudinally and are also disposed at slightly different levels and corresponding end sets of three tapped holes 92a, 92b, 92cm the vertical edge 14a of the standard flange 14, which tapped holes are correspondingly spaced apart longitudinally although all are at the same horizontal level. Thus, upon loosening the middle screw 18 and inserting the end screw through corresponding selected ones of the difierent level round holes 90a, 90b, 90c

of the end sets thereof and thereupon threading said end screws into corresponding ones of the tapped holes 92a, 92b, 9200f the end sets thereof, the rail as a whole may be adjusted to one of three difierent heights with respect to the flange l4, whereupon the middle screw 18 will again be tightened. Accordingly, the movable parts of the rail 16 can be moved into and secured in one of three possible vertical positions, corresponding to the levels of said simple round holes 90a, 90b, 90cas provided in the upper portions of the rail or rail parts, as previously described.

The somewhat modified form of dispenser according to FIGS. 11-14 inclusive differs from the above-described dispenser forms principally in that, whereas in said earlier described forms the forwardly disposed standard portion 42 is laterally offset from the vertical center plane of the magazine rails 16 or 76 thereof, as necessitates the inclusion of means, i.e. the aforesaid lug 44, for disposing the post 48 so that its center plane coincides with the forwardly extended vertical center plane of said magazine rails, the corresponding forwardly disposed standard portion 142 of the modified dispenser according to FIGS. 11-14 is itself disposed so that its vertical center plane coincides with that of said rails, and the vertical post designated 148 (on which the slide 162 is guided throughout its reciprocatory movement) is afiixed directly to the relatively rearward vertical edge of said standard portion 142. Yet another difference present in FIGS. 11-14 dispenser form over that of the earlier described forms resides in the fact that whereas the slide-actuated lever 56 of the prior-described forms was in the nature of a bar fulcrumed to swing in a vertical plane disposed sidewardly of that of the forward standard portion 42, the corresponding slide-actuated lever 156 of the variant form under description has the general shape of a downward opening channel and is mounted so as to straddle said forward standard portion 142. Further, by reference to FIGS. 11 and 13 in particular, it will be noted that the effective length of said lever 156 is such that its free, nseshaped end 160 protrudes into the space between the rail parts corresponding to the rail parts 20, 22 of the magazine rail 16 (FIGS. 1-8 and form) or corresponding to the rail parts 84, 86 of the magazine rail 76 (FIGS. 8 and 9 form).

Referring now to the dispenser embodiment illustrated in FIGS. -13 inclusive, it is explained that such operates on a somewhat different principle than that of the prior-described dispenser forms to the limited extent that, whereas the reciprocatory slide employed in each of the prior forms is actuated throughout its working, i.e. relatively upward, stroke by pull force applied thereto via the nonyieldable coupling between the ring in the dispense-ready position and the slide which becomes effective during the course of said ring being dispensed by upward pull force being imparted thereto by the pliers, with the slide thereupon lowering to its nonnal retracted or down position under the bias of a coil spring which is tensioned responsive to the slide being actuated throughout its working stroke as aforesaid, The slide according to the FIGS. 15-18 embodiment is normally maintained in its up" position in which it establishes the dispense-ready position of the endmost ring of the column thereof, it is positively actuated via said nonyieldable coupling (modified to so function) to its down" position responsive to the pull force which the pliers exerts on said ring in withdrawing or picking off same from the dispenser, and it is actuated throughout its working, i.e. relatively upward, stroke, during the course of which it engages the next endmost ring of the column thereof and initiates its movement to the dispense-ready position by the energy which is stored up in a coil spring disposed to be compressed by the slide as the latter moves to its aforesaid down" position.

More in detail, the slide employed according to the FIGS 15-18 embodiment illustratively is of two-part construction, being comprised of a transversely extending plate 200 whose upper edge has V-configuration similar to that of the upper edge of the cross wall 64 of the FIGS. 7A and 78 form of slide and which is secured to a short length slide body 202 of T-section operating in a vertical slideway defined by the two side guides 204a, 204bwhich are secured in mutually spaced relation to the vertical transverse face of a block 208, in turn rigidly secured to the upper face of the dispenser base as by screws 210, all as shown in FIG. 16.

The aforesaid slide is normally maintained in its up" or raised position in the slideway, in which it supports the endmost ring of the column thereof mounted on the dispenser magazine rail in its dispense-ready" position, i.e. in position such that the apertures provided in the usually cared ends of said ring are readily accessible to the tips of the pliers P, all as earlier explained. The slide is actuable to its down" or retracted position, indicated in broken lines in FIG. 16, responsive to said retaining ring in the dispense-ready position being withdrawn from the dispenser by upward pull force imparted thereto by the operator via said pliers.

It is a further feature of the dispenser embodiment being described that lowering movement of the slide to its aforesaid down" (broken-line) position is utilized to compress and thereby store energy in a coil spring 212 which for this purpose is interposed between the lower edge of the slide and the dispenser base. The stored-up energy of the spring when released imparts upward movement of the slide to its aforesaid normal position, during the course of which the upper edge of the slide plate 200 moves against and actuates the next endmost ring of the column to its dispense-ready position as aforesaid.

The means for actuating the slide to its *down" position responsive to the endmost ring being picked off (dispensed) by upward pull force exerted thereon by the pliers P in part comprises a lever system best shown in FIG. 16 which operates in a longitudinal slot 218 provided therefor in the aforementioned block 208. lllustratively, such comprises an upper lever designated 220 which generally corresponds to the single pivoted lever 56 or 156 of the prior dispenser forms in that it is pivoted for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the axis of its mounting pin 222 thus to extend in longitudinal alignment with the that rail, and it further has length such that its free end 220a extends into the central opening of the retaining ring then disposed in its dispense-ready position so as to be engageable by the inner edge of said ring and thereby swung in counterclockwise direction by said ring as the latter is pulled upward by the pliers during the course of its being dispensed.

The aforesaid lever system also includes a second lever 224 operating in the slot 218 of the block 208, said second lever being pivoted for swinging movement about the axis of its mounting pin 226 in the same vertical plane as that in which the lever 220 is swingable. As seen in FIG. 16, the length of said second lever 224 is less than that of its companion lever 220, but it is nevertheless such that its free end is normally disposed immediately over the upper surface of the slide body 202.

It is a feature of the embodiment under discussion that said levers 220, 224 swing in unison but in opposite directions. For this purpose, said levers adjacent their hubor pin-fulcrumed ends are provided with intermeshing cam (tooth) formations 220e, 224a whereby, as lever 220 moves in an ascending arc, the lower lever 224 will move in a descending arc, and vice versa. Such arrangement provides that, responsive to the ring in the dispense-ready position being picked off (dispensed) by upward pull force applied to said ring via the pliers, the lever 220 is swung in counterclockwise direction as imparts motion the lever 224 is clockwise direction, during the course of which its free end presses with substantial force against and actuates the slide 200, 202 to its down position. And during the course of its downward travel the slide compresses the coil spring 212 as results in energy being stored up therein, which is released upon complete ring withdrawal being effected positively to actuate the slide throughout its working stroke to its normal up" position in which it is shown in FIG. 16.

Illustrated as feature of the FIGS. 15-18 embodiment only but obviously applicable also to each of the herein priordescribed dispenser embodiments is a pliers-positioning and fulcrum member capable of serving the manifold functions of longitudinally aligning the pliers with the ring column, of supporting the pliers at a level as facilitates the insertion of the points or tips thereof into the apertures of the ring in the dispense-ready position, and of providing fulcrum for the pliers (considered as a lever) about which it (the pliers) may be turned to greatly reduce the effort sometimes required to be exerted by the operator in picking off a ring in the dispenseready position with a straight upward pull force applied through a nonfulcrumed pliers.

More in detail, said pliers positioning and fulcrum member illustratively comprises an upright U-formation generally designated 230 on the upper face of the block 208 and being disposed to extend transversely across same above the pivot pins 222, 226. Said member 230 is shown to comprise an integral part of said block 208, but it may also be fashioned as a part separate therefrom and thereupon suitably secured to said upper face of the block in its aforesaid position;

Preferably, the upper surface 232 of the crossbar or part of the U-formation 230 is disposed at the approximate level of the apertures provided in the ends of the ring in the dispenseready position, and the width of said surface 232 as defined by the upright side arms 234a, 234bof the U is slightly greater than the width of the connected hub portions of the plier arms, and thus the upright side portions 2340, 234b of said U-fonnation preclude any substantial side motion of the pliers.

By reference to FIG. 16 in particular, which depicts in full lines a pliers positioned by said U-formation 230 in readiness for a ring pickoff or dispensing operation, and in broken lines said pliers after it has been rocked or turned about a transverse fulcrum line defined by its line of bearing on the upper surface 232 ofsaid U-formation, it will be appreciated that the U-formation 230 functions as a fulcrum for the pliers about which the operator may pivot or turn same with a minimum of downward force required to be applied to the outer handle ends of the pliers arms. Also to be observed is that since a pliers supported as aforesaid now functions as a lever fulcrumed at a point substantially closer to the point of load application than to the point at which effort is applied by the operator (the outer handle ends of the pliers), a mechanical advantage of substantially more than 1 :lis obtained, thus reducing operator fatigue sometimes involved in and speeding up successive ring-dispensing operations.

From the above it will be appreciated that the various forms of dispenser described above are fully capable of satisfying the stated objectives of the invention as explained in the foregoing in simple yet highly effective manner. However, as minor constructional changes as may be needed to carry out the practice of the invention may be made therein, it is intended and is to be understood that all matter contained in the herein description and accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lclaim:

l. A dispenser for split retaining rings adapted to be operated by a pliers-type ringwithdrawing and assembling tool having tips comprising, in combination:

an elongate magazine rail for maintaining a supply of retaining rings to be dispensed in column formation;

means for supporting said magazine rail in an-operative,

generally horizontal position;

spring means for feeding the ring column along and towards one end ofthe rail;

an upright post member carried by said supporting means and extending transversely and at a predetermined distance forwardly of said rail end and being provided in its rail end adjacent wall with a recess for the reception of each then next endmost ring of the column thereof mounted on said rail upon said ring having been actuated from its normal in-column position to a relatively raised position in which the ring ends are accessible to the tips of the pliers and upon the previously endmost ring of the column having been withdrawn from said recess by said pliers;

a slide member mounted on said post for relative upward and return movement and being operative during the course of its relative upward movement to actuate each next endmost ring of the column to a raised position as aforesaid in which it is free to move into said recess upon full withdrawal of the endmost ring therefrom having been effected;

a lever fulcrumed for swinging movement in an upward are responsive to withdrawal movement of said endmost ring;

means providing an effectively positive coupling between said lever and slide whereby swinging movement of the lever in upward direction positively actuates the slide in upward direction as in turn actuates each next endmost ring to its raised position as aforesaid;

and spring means for returning said slide and lever, the latter through its positive coupling with the slide, to their respective lowered positions.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means between lever and slide is provided by the free end of the lever and the edge of an opening in the wall of the slide through which said free end protrudes.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said magazine rail is adjustable in its effective diameter as adapts it to the mounting thereon of a range of ring sizes.

4. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said magazine rail is convertible to the mounting thereon of either internal or external retaining rings to be dispensed.

5. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said magazine rail-supporting means also mounts a means for positioning said pliers so that its tips may readily be inserted in the apertures provided therefor in the ends of the then endmost ring of the column and also providing fulcrum about which said pliers operating as a fulcrumed lever may be turned, thereby substantially reducing the effort which the operator is required to expend in effecting full withdrawal of each endmost ring from the dispenser.

6. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said magazine rail comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending parts whose outer edges define the effective diameter of the rail.

7. A dispenser according to claim 6, and wherein at least one of the rail parts is mounted for limited movement relative to other parts thereof as varies the position and spacing between the outer edges of said rail-forming parts.

8. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said lever is fulcrumed to swing in a vertical plane which extends in general continuation of the longitudinal vertical center plane of the magazine rail.

9. A dispenser according to claim 8, wherein said lever is fulcrumed to an upright standard portion disposed relatively forwardly of said post.

10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein said lever has the general form of a downward opening channel and is mounted in straddling relation on said standard portion.

11. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said magazine-rail-supporting means comprises a rectangular base and a first longitudinal upright standard position carried by said base and being provided along its upper end with a horizontal flange terminating in a vertical edge, to which said magazine rail is affixed; wherein said upright post member is carried by said base and extends generally transversely thereacross; and wherein said lever is fulcrumed on a second, longitudinal upright standard portion carried by said base and which is disposed generally forwardly of said upright post member.

12. A dispenser according to claim 11, wherein said leverand-slide coupling means comprises the free end of the lever and the edges of an opening in the slide through which said free end protrudes.

13. A dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the construction and arrangement of parts is further such that said free end of the lever protrudes into the recess provided in said post member to a position in which it is disposed in the path of movement of each endmost ring of the column thereof being withdrawn by said pliers.

14. A dispenser for split retaining rings adapted to be operated by a pliers-type ring-withdrawing and assembling tool having tips comprising, in combination:

an elongate magazine rail for maintaining supply of the retaining rings to be dispensed in column formation;

a support for said magazine rail;

spring means for feeding the column of rings longitudinally along and toward one end of the magazine rail;

a slide mounted for reciprocatory travel in a path which intersects the axis of the ring column and is further so related longitudinally with respect to said column that in partaking of such travel the slide is effective to initiate movement of each then endmost sing of said column from an in-column position to a relatively raised dispenseready position in which the apertures conventionally provided in the ring ends are accessible to the plier tips;

and a nonyieldable coupling operative between said ring in the dispense-ready position and said slide for imparting reciprocatory travel to the slide and thereby movement of said next endmost ring of the column to said relatively raised position as aforesaid responsive to the ring then in its dispense-ready position being engaged and thereupon withdrawn by said pliers.

15. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the reciprocatory travel of the slide is such that said slide moves said next endmost ring of the column directly to said dispenseready position.

16. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the reciprocatory travel of the slide is such that said slide moves said next endmost ring of the column to a raised position in which it is maintained a slight distance to one side of its ultimate dispense-ready position, and said spring means operating through the ring column imparts final movement of said raised position ring to its ultimate dispense-ready position.

17. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said coupling is constructed and arranged as to be operative positively to travel the slide in upward direction with each ringdispensing operation, and wherein spring means operative between said slide and magazine rail support effects return travel of said slide.

18. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said coupling is constructed and arranged as to be operative positively to travel the slide from a normal raised position in which it determines the dispense-ready position of said endmost ring to a down position, and wherein spring means interposed between the slide and said magazine rail support is compressed by the slide during its downward travel and releases its energy upon completion of said ring-dispensing operation thereby to travel the slide upward to its said normal raised position.

19. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said magazine rail support also mounts a means for positioning a ring-dispensing pliers for the ready insertion of the tips thereof in the apertures provided in the ends of a ring then in its dispense-ready position, said last means also providing a fulcrum about which said pliers operating as a fulcrumed lever may be turned, thereby substantially reducing the effort required to be expended by the operator in withdrawing each ring in the dispense-ready position from the dispenser. 

1. A dispenser for split retaining rings adapted to be operated by a pliers-type ring-withdrawing and assembling tool having tips comprising, in combination: an elongate magazine rail for maintaining a supply of retaining rings to be dispensed in column formation; means for supporting said magazine rail in an operative, generally horizontal position; spring means for feeding the ring column along and towards one end of the rail; an upright Post member carried by said supporting means and extending transversely and at a predetermined distance forwardly of said rail end and being provided in its rail end adjacent wall with a recess for the reception of each then next endmost ring of the column thereof mounted on said rail upon said ring having been actuated from its normal in-column position to a relatively raised position in which the ring ends are accessible to the tips of the pliers and upon the previously endmost ring of the column having been withdrawn from said recess by said pliers; a slide member mounted on said post for relative upward and return movement and being operative during the course of its relative upward movement to actuate each next endmost ring of the column to a raised position as aforesaid in which it is free to move into said recess upon full withdrawal of the endmost ring therefrom having been effected; a lever fulcrumed for swinging movement in an upward arc responsive to withdrawal movement of said endmost ring; means providing an effectively positive coupling between said lever and slide whereby swinging movement of the lever in upward direction positively actuates the slide in upward direction as in turn actuates each next endmost ring to its raised position as aforesaid; and spring means for returning said slide and lever, the latter through its positive coupling with the slide, to their respective lowered positions.
 2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means between lever and slide is provided by the free end of the lever and the edge of an opening in the wall of the slide through which said free end protrudes.
 3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said magazine rail is adjustable in its effective diameter as adapts it to the mounting thereon of a range of ring sizes.
 4. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said magazine rail is convertible to the mounting thereon of either internal or external retaining rings to be dispensed.
 5. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said magazine rail-supporting means also mounts a means for positioning said pliers so that its tips may readily be inserted in the apertures provided therefor in the ends of the then endmost ring of the column and also providing fulcrum about which said pliers operating as a fulcrumed lever may be turned, thereby substantially reducing the effort which the operator is required to expend in effecting full withdrawal of each endmost ring from the dispenser.
 6. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said magazine rail comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending parts whose outer edges define the effective diameter of the rail.
 7. A dispenser according to claim 6, and wherein at least one of the rail parts is mounted for limited movement relative to other parts thereof as varies the position and spacing between the outer edges of said rail-forming parts.
 8. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said lever is fulcrumed to swing in a vertical plane which extends in general continuation of the longitudinal vertical center plane of the magazine rail.
 9. A dispenser according to claim 8, wherein said lever is fulcrumed to an upright standard portion disposed relatively forwardly of said post.
 10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein said lever has the general form of a downward opening channel and is mounted in straddling relation on said standard portion.
 11. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said magazine-rail-supporting means comprises a rectangular base and a first longitudinal upright standard position carried by said base and being provided along its upper end with a horizontal flange terminating in a vertical edge, to which said magazine rail is affixed; wherein said upright post member is carried by said base and extends generally transversely thereacross; and wherein said lever is fulcrumed on a second, longitudinal upright standard portion carried by said base and which is disposed generally forwardly of said uPright post member.
 12. A dispenser according to claim 11, wherein said lever-and-slide coupling means comprises the free end of the lever and the edges of an opening in the slide through which said free end protrudes.
 13. A dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the construction and arrangement of parts is further such that said free end of the lever protrudes into the recess provided in said post member to a position in which it is disposed in the path of movement of each endmost ring of the column thereof being withdrawn by said pliers.
 14. A dispenser for split retaining rings adapted to be operated by a pliers-type ring-withdrawing and assembling tool having tips comprising, in combination: an elongate magazine rail for maintaining supply of the retaining rings to be dispensed in column formation; a support for said magazine rail; spring means for feeding the column of rings longitudinally along and toward one end of the magazine rail; a slide mounted for reciprocatory travel in a path which intersects the axis of the ring column and is further so related longitudinally with respect to said column that in partaking of such travel the slide is effective to initiate movement of each then endmost sing of said column from an in-column position to a relatively raised dispense-ready position in which the apertures conventionally provided in the ring ends are accessible to the plier tips; and a nonyieldable coupling operative between said ring in the dispense-ready position and said slide for imparting reciprocatory travel to the slide and thereby movement of said next endmost ring of the column to said relatively raised position as aforesaid responsive to the ring then in its dispense-ready position being engaged and thereupon withdrawn by said pliers.
 15. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the reciprocatory travel of the slide is such that said slide moves said next endmost ring of the column directly to said dispense-ready position.
 16. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the reciprocatory travel of the slide is such that said slide moves said next endmost ring of the column to a raised position in which it is maintained a slight distance to one side of its ultimate dispense-ready position, and said spring means operating through the ring column imparts final movement of said raised position ring to its ultimate dispense-ready position.
 17. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said coupling is constructed and arranged as to be operative positively to travel the slide in upward direction with each ring-dispensing operation, and wherein spring means operative between said slide and magazine rail support effects return travel of said slide.
 18. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said coupling is constructed and arranged as to be operative positively to travel the slide from a normal raised position in which it determines the dispense-ready position of said endmost ring to a down position, and wherein spring means interposed between the slide and said magazine rail support is compressed by the slide during its downward travel and releases its energy upon completion of said ring-dispensing operation thereby to travel the slide upward to its said normal raised position.
 19. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said magazine rail support also mounts a means for positioning a ring-dispensing pliers for the ready insertion of the tips thereof in the apertures provided in the ends of a ring then in its dispense-ready position, said last means also providing a fulcrum about which said pliers operating as a fulcrumed lever may be turned, thereby substantially reducing the effort required to be expended by the operator in withdrawing each ring in the dispense-ready position from the dispenser. 